Joe Velderman
MCP, Vice President of Innovation
Cypress Living
Joe Velderman serves as the Vice President of Innovation at Cypress Living - supporting Cypress Cove and Cypress at Home. As VP of Innovation Mr. Velderman has an external focus, leading IT-powered digital innovation, while building and supporting the innovation capabilities of the organization. In addition to the innovation efforts, Joe is responsible for all technology operations within the Cypress brand; guiding strategy and direction for all infrastructure, enterprise applications, and data initiatives.
Part of my role is to keep the trains on track and keep them moving. The most important facet of my role is to perpetually ask “Where is this train going?” “How fast should it be going?” “Should we even be on a train or a rocket ship?” Mr. Velderman has always had an affinity for seniors and is passionate about developing and leveraging technology tools as a means for helping seniors age in a healthy and graceful way. He is a gifted, forward-thinker and strategist with a keen sense for how technology can and will be used in the future.
Mr. Velderman resides with his wife Jennifer and son Hunter in Fort Myers, FL. In his spare time he enjoys smart-home technologies, fishing, boating and automotive detailing. Mr. Velderman’s son, Hunter, is an avid iPad navigator and at just 4 years old he is working to master a new toy…”The Code-a-Pillar.
Donny Friday
Director of Technology
Sun Health
Chip Burns
CIO
Sun Health
Chip Burns has over 44 years’ experience in the Information Technology field, specializing in technology for the senior living industry since 1997. Currently Chip is the Virtual CIO for Sun Health in Arizona. Mr. Burns serves as a commissioner for the Center for Aging Technologies (CAST) for over 10 years and was a co-founder and sponsor of the LeadingAge HackFest. He has also been a guest speaker at several senior living conferences, including the national LeadingAge conference as well as local LeadingAge conferences in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Tennessee.
Mr. Burns has a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland University College.
Geert Houben
CEO
Cubigo
Geert Houben received master degrees in both Computer Science and Business Economics at Hasselt University in Belgium. In 2011, after a successful exit of his first startup, he co-founded Cubigo. Cubigo is a software platform for non-clinical services in Senior Living, active in North America and Europe. The company works with the largest Senior Living organisations in the world and is a leading player in the digital transformation of the industry.
Shawn Richard
Vice President of Resident Experience
Holiday Retirement
Shawn Richard is the Vice President of Resident Experience for Holiday Retirement. In this role, Shawn provides leadership for the dining, activities, housekeeping, and resident relations.
Before being named to this position, Shawn lead Dining and new business initiatives for Holiday Retirement, including Milo and Silver Chef's launch. Before joining Holiday, Shawn worked for Panera Bread, Darden Restaurants, and Earl Enterprises. Shawn brought over 20 years of restaurant business experience in leadership roles to the organization.
Shawn is a graduate of Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. He is also certified in Prosci Change Management.
